Left to Right: MMS Director Johnnie Burton, Dan Riemer, Sharon Redding, Charlie Mertz, Rob Hain, and Minerals Revenue Management Associate Director Lucy Querques Denett

Mr. Hain provided outstanding assistance to MMS in implementation of its offshore RIK Program. Acting on his own initiative, Mr. Hain has established relationships with MMS RIK employees and mentored them through the "nuts and bolts" of successful gas management.

Mr. Hain’s motto of "get the job done right—the first time" has earned him our respect and appreciation. Since the inception of our RIK Program, Mr. Hain has contributed to our success. For example, when evaluating the properties on a pipeline for an RIK conversion, the Gas RIK Team needs an industry perspective. Mr. Hain is especially sought out because he provides a straightforward, even-handed evaluation. He accurately identifies the pros and cons of our gas marketing and transportation options; explains the commercial impacts of each approach and gives suggestions for a more polished package. Mr. Hain, through his own attention to detail, helps us get our job done right—the first time.

Mr. Hain invited MMS employees onto Reliant’s Trade Floor, explained the tools that industry uses to perform its tasks and helped our employees become comfortable with the same tools. He taught MMS about the probable impact of industry concepts (OFO, Imbalances, Pool Transfers) and helped us understand our role and responsibility as a gas producer. For example, during the Enron bankruptcy, conversations with Mr. Hain ensured that MMS’s response aligned to industry’s response to this unprecedented phenomenon. MMS fine-tuned its role and responsibilities to respond to Enron and the rest of industry in a commercially viable way.

Mr. Hain and Reliant Energy Services also responded to urgent MMS requests for purchase of a significant amount of natural gas that was left stranded in the recent Enron bankruptcy. When many other companies were offering low prices for such a distressed commodity, Mr. Hain bought the gas at fair market value. He then transacted numerous pipeline contracts and scheduled gas from nearly 30 offshore points—all within 2 days of the start of the next business cycle. Such outstanding efforts in producer services are the very essence of high quality and enduring business relationships.

For these reasons, Mr. Hain is most deserving of the MMS Corporate Leadership Award.